1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i President Trump Nominates Judge Brett Kavanaugh: Initial Observations July 10, 2018 On July 9, 2018, President Trump announced the nomination of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Dis
2、trict of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) to fill the impending vacancy on the Supreme Court caused by Justice Kennedys scheduled retirement on July 31, 2018. As noted in this earlier Sidebar, Justice Kennedys retirement is likely to have significant implications for the Court, Congress, and the nati
3、on as a whole. Justice Kennedy, as the Roberts Courts median vote, was often at the epicenter of legal debates on the High Court, casting decisive votes on issues ranging from the powers of the federal government vis-vis the states, to separation-of-powers disputes, to key civil liberties issues. A
4、critical question now before the Senate as it considers providing its advice and consent to the Presidents nomination to the High Court is how Judge Kavanaugh may view the many legal issues in which Justice Kennedys vote was often determinative. This Sidebar provides some initial observations on Jud